Jiri Hudler 'thrilled' to be back with Red Wings

AP File PhotoJiri Hudler is expected to start on the Red Wings' third like with Mike Modano and Dan Cleary.

DETROIT -- Jiri Hudler walked into the Detroit Red Wings dressing room for the first time in 15 months Sunday morning and immediately felt at home again.

He sat and talked with Nicklas Lidstrom, cracked a joke with Tomas Holmstrom, worked out with Kris Draper and Dan Cleary. He didn't like being relegated to the corner stall, a high traffic area close to the weight room, but was jokingly told he has to earn his old spot back.

Back where his NHL career started, Hudler said, "It feels like I never left."

His work visa secured, Hudler arrived over the weekend after a summer of training in the Los Angeles area. The 26-year-old forward will get reacquainted with more of his teammates during today's informal practice at Joe Louis Arena, when he'll skate with them for the first time since the 2009 Stanley Cup finals.

"I can't get enough of this feeling, just walking in and being around the guys, it's unbelievable,'' Hudler said. "I'm so happy to be back, thrilled.''

Hudler opted out of his two-year, $10 million contract with Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League after one season, a move made easier when that franchise merged with another club.

"I didn't have a problem in Russia, but I did miss the locker room, all the guys, Detroit, my friends,'' Hudler said. "I wanted to go back badly because I missed it so much.''

Hudler was awarded a two-year, $5.75 million contract with the Red Wings through salary arbitration in August 2009 (a deal both sides agreed to beforehand).

He said he was a little nervous upon his return but was not concerned about whether he'd be welcomed back.

He was assured of that during several phone conversations with Draper, Cleary and general manager Ken Holland and in a meeting with coach Mike Babcock during last June's entry draft in Los Angeles.

"All the guys know the situation, no hard feelings at all,'' Hudler said.

Lidstrom added, "He got a great opportunity, he wanted to try it out. No hard feelings from our side.''

Hudler enjoyed the big role he had with Dynamo, playing more than 20 minutes a game in all situations. He is poised to pick up where he left off in the NHL, when he collected career highs in goals (23) and points (57) in 2008-09.

"I think I'm ready to fit in back where I was and be better,'' Hudler said. "This team is unbelievable right now, looks really good.''

Babcock said he believes Hudler, with his hard wrist shot, soft passes and willingness to go to the net, can rack up 70 points.

"(Babcock) said, 'You got to create some chances, do the scoring,' '' Hudler said. "We got Pav (Datsyuk) Z, (Henrik Zetterberg) Fil, (Valtteri Filppula), Bert (Todd Bertuzzi), Mo (Mike Modano). Looks like we should have good scoring touch. That's what he wants from me and I'm going to play with some great players.''

Babcock plans to start the season with Modano centering the third line between Hudler and Cleary.

"Mike Modano, you can't get any better than that,'' Hudler said. "And I played with Bear (Cleary) before, know what kind of player he is. It's exciting.''

Hudler said he did more weight training this summer than ever before. Asked if his 5-foot-10, 182-pound teammate looks stronger, Lidstrom said, "I haven't seen him with his shirt off yet. We'll see when he gets on the ice.''

Hudler will boost the second power-play unit.

"He's great with the puck, great in small areas, real quick,'' Lidstrom said. "He's got those playmaking abilities and he can score goals.

"He knows our system, knows the coach, knows the players, which will make it easier for him to start playing here again. I think he wants to prove to everybody he's a great player.''

Holmstrom called Hudler "a good guy and good teammate.''

"He's probably matured and worked on his game even more,'' Holmstrom said. "It's going to be fun to see him out there. He scored some big goals for us before he left. (We're) sure excited to have him back.''

Hudler said of his experience in Russia: "There's no regrets. I cannot say anything bad about it. It was good hockey, a good life experience.''